SCAMMER ALERT
Please be aware of scammers falsely impersonating First Sentier Investors representatives making contact about potential investments. First Sentier Investors representatives do not make direct contact with prospective individual investors on investment opportunities. These are not legitimate approaches from First Sentier Investors. Find out more about combating investment scams.
Combating investment scams
Beware of investment scams
The financial services industry is a target for scammers and criminals around the world. Cybercrime tactics are constantly evolving and becoming more advanced. In recent times we have observed scammers using advanced technology to impersonate real people from reputable financial service firms and make unsolicited contact with individuals via phone, email, instant messaging or other social media platforms to mislead them to invest in counterfeit investment opportunities.
This webpage contains some guidance to assist you in identifying any suspicious approaches.
FAQs
What is an investment scam?
An investment scam is a counterfeit investment opportunity presented to individuals by scammers who may impersonate real people from financial service firms. The scammers often present extremely appealing “too good to be true” investment opportunities through one or more highly convincing interactions, supported by sophisticated fake materials, such as disclosure documents, application material, product reviews, apps and websites.
How can I avoid being scammed?
Treat any unsolicited contact from financial service firms or individuals who are not your trusted financial adviser with suspicion, including anyone that you only know online if you cannot independently verify their identity. First Sentier Investors will never contact prospective individual investors directly to offer investment opportunities.
What are some indicators of an investment scam?
- Unexpected or unsolicited communications via phone, email, instant messaging or other social media platforms. These communications may prompt you to click on malicious links or open embedded documents from unknown sources, scan QR codes or provide your details over the phone
- The offers often seem “too good to be true” and may be in the form of a promising high returns with little to no risk, a guaranteed minimum returns, claims that the government or a regulatory authority guarantees investments or exclusive invitation-only opportunities
- Communications are likely to create a sense of urgency or threat and may ask you to provide personal information or provide urgent payment
- There may be minor spelling or grammatical errors in any text, in messages or materials provided
- Check original email address as it may look unusual or be from a webmail address, e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.
What should I do if I think I am the target of a scam?
- You can report the scam to Netsafe via their website and they will get back to you with advice and may also pass your report to another agency, such as the police or Consumer Protection
- If you suspect that you are being targeted with any fake or copy websites, or that your identity has been obtained or is being used by someone else, you can report the issue to Cert NZ
- If you receive any unsolicited contact from persons purporting to be representatives of First Sentier Investors please do not respond to it, notify us by email via scams@firstsentier.com.
Is there any additional information or resources available to help me identify potential scams?
- For current alerts on scams: https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/news-and-alerts
- For general information on your online safety: https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/get-protected/guides/
- For learning more about recognising and reporting scams: https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/general-help/scamwatch
- For information about protecting your identity: https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/
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Material on this website is intended to provide general information only. This material has been prepared and issued by First Sentier Investors (Australia) IM Ltd (ABN 89 114 194 311, AFSL 289017) (FSI AIM), and includes the Financial Services Guide for FSI AIM.
This material does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should consider the information on this website and the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the relevant fund, issued by either Colonial First State Investments Limited (ABN 98 002 348 352, AFSL 232468) (CFSIL) or The Trust Company (RE Services) Limited (ABN 45 003 278 831, AFSL 235150) (Perpetual) and assess whether the fund is appropriate given your objectives, financial situations or needs.
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The commentaries and/or views expressed herein are the views of the author at the time of issue and may change over time. Such commentaries and/or views: (i) are not a recommendation to hold, purchase or sell a particular financial product; (ii) may not include all of the information needed to make an investment decision in relation to a financial product; and (iii) may substantially differ from other individual authors within the First Sentier Group.
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